Fastener for churn-tops



(No Model.)

J. H. ELLIOTT. TASTBNER POR GHURN Tops.

No. 325,164. Patented'Aug. 25, 1885.

N. PETERS, Phnwmhugnyher, wnshngmn, D. C.

llNiTnn dTaTies PATENT Ormes.

JOHN H. ELLIOTT, OF MASON CITY, IOVA.

FASTENER FOR CHURN-TOPS.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,164, dated August 25, 1835.

Application filed June 3, ISES.

T0 LU whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN H. ELLIOTT, of

Mason City, in the county of Cerro Gordo and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fasteners for Ohurn- Tops; and I do hereby declare that the following isafull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which :form part ofthis specification, in which Figure l is a plan view of my improved cover closed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, showing its position when open in dotted lines.

This invention relates to improvements in churn-covers, being especially adapted for use on barrel-chorus; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

A represents the metallic ring-head of abarrelchurn, having its outer edge beveled for engagement in the Croze of the barrel, and having a bead, c, formed on its inner circumference or around its mouth, as shown.

D represents a hingesstrap bolted tothe ring A, having interposed between it and the ring one o r more washers, b, fora purpose hereinafter stated.

O is the cover or door of the churn, which consists of a circular disk, D, preferably ot' wood, slightly less in diameter than the diaineter of bead c of the ring, inclosed by a rim of metal, D', of greater diameter than bead a. This rim D is chambered on its under and inner surface to leave a recess between its lower edge and disk D, in which recess is placed a packing, d, of cork or other suitable material, which, when the cover is closed,will rest onthe bead a. The upper edge of rim D' is constructed or cast with a number of perforated ears, d', which rest on the upper surface of the disk, and by the aid of screws or bolts secure the disk and rim D' together.

A,Y-shaped brace, E, is preferably cast integral with the rim D, extending across the upper surface of the disk D, and to the stein c ot' this brace is secured a hinge-strap, F, the eye of which is secured between the ears of hinge B in such position thatthe cover is held sufiiciently upright, when raised, to allow the (No nil-del.)

milk collected on its under surface to drip back into the vessel.

If desired, the brace E and hinge-strap F may be made separate from the angular rim D, in one piece, and bolted in position on the cover; but I prefer makingthem as described.

About the center of brace E is a slot, e', having its length in the direction of hinge F, and in this slot is placed a latch, G, which curves upwardly and rearwardly from the hinge F. Said latch is prevented from escaping from the slot by ears which engage against the under surface of the brace, (or it may be pivoted in the slot, if desired,) and is kept in desired position by means of aspring, g,which may be of any suitable kind, but preferably by a rubber block.

The portion of the latch facing hinge F is provided with a number of ratchet teeth, which are engaged by a plate on a lever, II. This lever II is formed with two arms, It 71, which arc pivoted or hinged to posts I Lwhich are secured to or cast on the ring'head A at points opposite to the ends of the bifurcations of brace E. The ends of lever-arms 7i are slightly bent upward, as shown, so that when the lever is depressed these portions will rest on the bifurcations of the brace E and cause the cover to bind on the bead c. rIhe arms 7i l1 of the lever diverge from the handle at a point directly over the latch G, so that when the cover is shut and the lever pressed down an adjustable plate, j, secured to the upper surface of the lever by a suitable bolt,will engage the ratchet-teeth ot' the latch and prevent thc release of the lever. .Consequently the cover will remain tightly closed, the bead c of ring A pressing the surface of the packing d and forming a tight joint, eiiectually preventing the escape of milk while churning. The plate j is made adjustable, so that it may always be kept in position to engage the teeth of the latch.

The lever is easily released by pressing back t-he head ofthe latch.

The hinge F is so secured to the cover that when the latter is closed it will be slightly hingerbound,thusiusuring a tightjoint around the whole circumference of the bead when the lever is tightened. If the hinge-joint should become loosened in consequence of wear of the packing, one of the washers under the IOO hinge B maybe removed and the screws of the same tightened, thus renewing the neces` sary pressure of the cover upon bead a.

It will be seen that by this construction the cover is always in place, that its fastening or unfastening may be quickly effected, and that the packing of the cover is less liable to wear and thereby allow leakage of the milk, as it always binds against the same portion of the bead, and does not become unequally worn.

Having described my invention, I claiml.' The combination,with a churn-cover and a ring, of a rocking serrated latch pivotally attached to the cover, and a bifurcated lever pivotally attached to the ring and arranged to bear upon the top of the covervand provided with a plate to engage the teeth of the latch. all substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a hinged top or cover composed of a metallic rim and a wooden disk having a Y-shaped brace secured to the rim and disk and provided with a latch, G,

of a metallic ring provided with posts, to

which are hinged the prongs of a lever arranged to bear upon the cover when said lever is depressed, and a plate on t-he lever adaptedv to engage the latch of the cover, -whereby the lever is'held to its bearing upon the cover, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, in a churn-top,ot` a metallic ring, A, having posts I-I, a bifurcated le ver hinged to the posts,and a removable hingeplate, B, beneath which are one or more washers, with'a hinged cover composed of a metallie rim, D, and a wooden disk, D, the space between said disk and inner circumference of the rim being lled with an elastic or yielding substance, and means forsecurely locking the lever, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. ELLIOTT.

Vilnesses:

GEORGE H. MARKERT, F. W. CAULKINs. 

